The Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) and the Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) call on students to share their ideas for improving education in Connecticut.

Submitted release

The Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) and The Connecticut Association of Schools (CAS) are proud to announce the start of the 3rd Annual Student Voices Contest, a statewide effort to bring students’ perspectives into community and legislative conversations about how to improve education for all Connecticut students.

In an effort to engage students in developing videos and essays that inspire their peers, educators, administrators and policy makers to think about education differently, CAPSS and CAS have partnered for the third consecutive year to ask students across Connecticut in grades 6-12 to share their ideas for education reform.

“We are pleased to bring back the Student Voices contest for its third year,” said Joseph J. Cirasuolo, Ed.D., executive director, CAPSS. “Student input is vital to transforming Connecticut’s educational system in a practical and sustainable way that benefits all learners.  We’ve received overwhelmingly creative and thoughtful submissions over the past two years and look forward to a record-setting number of submissions this year.”

The Student Voices video division is open to all Connecticut students in grades 6-12, while the essay division is open to all Connecticut students in grades 9-12. Students may enter in the Middle School Video Division, High School Video Division or the High School Essay Division.

Students are encouraged to work independently or in a small group (no more than three students) to create a 1-4 minute video submission that highlights their recommendations for transforming education in Connecticut. Essay entries must be submitted by individual students.  First, second and third place prizes will be awarded in each division.

“The Student Voices for Improving Education project is not only unique but also a very important part of our efforts to transform public education in Connecticut,” said Karissa Niehoff, Ed. D., executive director, CAS. “The student perspective in this work is critical as their opinions and ideas are extremely insightful.  Students are often the best resource as education is first and foremost their experience.  CAS is excited to partner with CAPSS in this endeavor.”

CAPSS and CAS are accepting video and essay submissions from Connecticut students for Student Voices until March 2, 2015. A panel of judges will review video and essay entries in March 2015 and the finalists’ videos will be opened to public voting in April 2015. Results for both the video and essay contests will be announced in May 2015. To learn more about the video and essay divisions of the Student Voices contest and to enter, visit: www.ctstudentvoices.com.